The Washington critic., 1887-02-04
THE NEW DISTRICT BUILDING.

month.
THE NEW DISTRICT BUILDING.
The bill for the erection of District
bIildng, which the Commissioners
have submitted 10 Congress, provides
for its location on Judiciary Square,
fronting Fifth street and between +
and + streets. 1t Is understood that
they are not tenacious about this par
iicular site, but suggested 1t TO give
greater deinilene-a to the bill.
The CRIrrC is of the opinion, how
ever, that in naming judiciary Squar,
they have made - most excellent
choice, with the exception that, in.
stead Of placing The new building so
far up Fifth street, the better site
would bo one Of the corners Of the
square, either the southeast or south.
west.
During the last session of Congress
we advocated the use OF the southern
front of Judiciary square for the new
City Postoflico aud District buildings
bt Ii, the one upon the Louisiana ave-
nue. corner and the other upon the ID
street or Indiana avenue corner, with
the City Hall between, on the theory
that the location would not only be
convenient, but afforded advantages
for the architectural adornment Of the
city that could not be surpassed. The
position is slightly and commanding,
and the three buildings in close con.
tiguity, finished, as they doubtless
would be, in style of symmetrical
correspondence each with the others,
would fitly crown a handsome emf
nence and become conspicuous objects
of admiration.
We showed that even after the erec.
tion of these edilccs there would still
he left between them and the Pension
Office a spacious and unbroken park of
twelve to fifteen acres
1t is highly probable that this propo.
sition will never be realized; but we do
insist that If Judiciary Square be
finally selected, as 1t ought to be, for
the District buildings, the corner on
Fifth street and Louisiana avenue is
greatly preferable, both as matter of
taste and accessibility, to that portion
of the square mentioned by the Com
missioners, and the erection of the
buildings there would in no wise inter-
fere with any future improvement OF
enlargement of the City Hall.
In the meantime Senator Sawyer has
proposed to appropriate Sl2j,0 900 for
the purchase of u site, which we feal
would simply provoke similar con
t,ntion to that already existing in re-
gard to the site OF the City Postoiiice
and indefinitely postpone a work tha
should be entered upon at once. The
Commissioners would scarcely like L
be clothed with the responsibility oi
making an arbitrary selection, and ever
If they undertook it, would encounter
much embarrassment in arriving at q
determination,
All this trouble can be avoided, and
all delays prevented by settling at once
on the Judiciary Square site. Had thi'
been done In the case of the postoiilce
the foundations of the building coult
have been laid by this time, and thu
superstructure been well under way
As 1t Is, we are as far as ever from
having new Postofllcc anywhere
and so It will be with the Distric
buildings unless some public rescrva
tion is utilized for the purpose.
THE Pensions debate in the Senate
Yesterday, which began with an ar
. raignment of Commissioner Black
soon drifted from the Pension Office
and the Commissioner alleged ruling
to the general subject of Civil,Servict
Reform, and Mr.. salisbury, Mr.. Vance
Mr.. Beck and others took occasion t
express their opinion of the law in ne
mincing or measured terms. Tn,
Kentucky Senator, as is his wont upor
all questions in which his feelings ar,
enlisted, was particularly blunt anC
outspoken in his criticisms. We quott
as follows;
! n It say that In my opinion II is not wis
policy on the part 0f the Administration Z
keen is enemies Ia power to huIt 1t all the
can or pallow them 10 do al! toe bIrm tp,
r..iL
me 80 mirls'ratiuu, in my Judgment, Ia
made q mstake not putting iis friends !
place wrefe n ha- the power 10 DO 80. ( d
not believe fblt any man can carry IN a fari
ii his plOw boys are tfyiug tu hreia him dow
and man cannot carry ON corner grocer
If all his CLERK, are seeking 10 destroy him,
do not believe a grnat government can be ..
ninistered without having the good will o
the men who are entrusted with its position
There j. one care that desire 20 refer .
that Of the man al the head ot the Rgllwa
Mail Service, Republican, good man, n
doubt, but ~ earnest q worker for th' Il,
publican party as I aln for the Democrat
party.
when u man like Mr Jameson has unl,
him 100 men, as the Blue BnYS shows, wit
salaries varying from l,,o0 down TO $500
year, Is II right that should have TO 20, wit
my hat In my hand, ANA be- him to look Int
things, and he can turn Ibc on us IL / was
beggar. and dare not tell him why want
change made. because tho very reason why
desire a change Is The very reason VIII
wants 10 keep the men he has got. lie deslr
to keop mon 10 break down tho Admloistr
ton. desire to put men there who will bu
IL ", and cannot tell him so. That Is a ca
Iiy, YOU as Illustrating the whole matter,
THE CIuTGC can sympathize wit
Mr.. Beck, as II does with all who hai
tor any similar grievance. We do NJ
believe that amy great department c
the Government should be Of polite
complexion different from that Of th
Administration of which it is a par
But what are our Democratic friend
going to do about itS We have bee
waiting Cor an answer to this question